The fall of the Roman Empire in the West is considered one of the most decisive moments in all of human history. This event traditionally marks the transition from classical civilization to the birth of Europe. There is absolutely enormous scientific interest in this subject; thousands of books have been published and an endless number of essays and theories on the cause have been written. Why did the Western Roman Empire fall? It is difficult to find a simple explanation. Some researchers have attempted to identify a main problem causing this drop. Some say the culprit is lead and its use in water pipes; others believe Christian ideology is to blame. The issue is confusingly complex and it goes without saying that one particular problem cannot, on its own, be sufficient to explain the fall of this sprawling and still powerful empire. The reason that seems most compelling is a holistic reason that takes into account several factors. Thinking this way, the fall was most likely caused by circumstances that led to a collapse of the centralized military and tributary complex, producing inherent limitations on the military's capabilities. The state was no longer able to preserve its borders and was eventually overwhelmed by the invasion of barbarian tribes. Although the invasion of the Roman Empire's frontier is likely the central problem, many theories exist to explain how Rome found itself in trouble. The somewhat outdated, but nonetheless fascinating, theory of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire is the widespread use of lead pipes in urban centers to transport drinking water. Some believe that this continued exposure to lead poisoned the Romans who drank it. Chronic and long-term exposure to lead will cause ...... middle of paper ...... clean. These are problems of money and military inefficiency. It is a series of events producing economic limitations that result in the inability to defend the borders at a time when it was imperative to be able to hold the line. In the past, the Roman Empire was able to absorb incoming barbarians while guarding its border, but added pressure from the Huns causes the Empire to be overwhelmed and overwhelmed. Works Cited Bury, John B., History of the Later Roman Empire, New York: Dover, 1970. Heather, Peter, The Fall of Ancient Rome, New York, Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006. Hodge, A. Trevor, “Vitruvius , Lead Pipes and Lead Poisoning,” American Journal of Archeology 85, no. 4 (1981): 486-491. Nardo, Dan, ed., The End of Ancient Rome, San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Timbrell, John A, The Poison Paradox, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.